When Should You See a Hematologist?
Blood is a crucial component of the body. The blood’s many important tasks include fighting infections, transporting oxygen from the lungs to the cells, and
Kidney Cancer Treatment in NJ, CT, MD, and the Washington, D.C., Area
Kidney cancer (renal cancer) refers to cancerous cells that develop and grow out of control in the kidney. Every year, there are around 82,000 new cases of kidney cancer in the United States. Early detection is crucial because treating kidney cancer in its earliest stages offers the best chance of survival.
Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA) serves patients with cancer or blood disorders throughout New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, and the Washington, D.C., area. No matter a person’s age or health history, RCCA’s medical oncologists and hematologists develop personalized care plans to help patients manage cancer diagnoses and lead fulfilling lives. Learn more about kidney cancer and the treatment approach at Regional Cancer Care Associates.
What Is Kidney Cancer?
The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist, attached to the upper back wall of the abdomen. Cancer begins when something triggers a change in the cells, and they divide out of control. In time, these cells form a mass called a tumor.
Risk Factors and Causes
There are several risk factors for kidney cancer including:
- Genetic predisposition: Individuals with a family history of kidney cancer are at a higher risk of developing the disease than the general population. Additionally, being born with Von Hippel-Lindau disease, Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome, or familial papillary renal cell carcinoma increases the risk.
- Smoking and tobacco use: Tobacco has been associated with genetic mutations, inflammation, and cellular damage, all of which fuel cancer growth.
- Obesity and poor diet: Obesity caused by a poor diet has been linked to the development of kidney cancer.
- Environmental factors: Being exposed to cadmium, certain herbicides, and organic solvents such as trichloroethylene raises the risk of kidney cancer.
- Older age: Older people are more likely to develop certain cancers, including kidney cancer.
- Being male: While this disease affects both men and women, men are more likely to develop kidney cancer than women.
Knowing and modifying controllable risk factors, along with undergoing regular kidney cancer screenings and evaluations from physicians, are important for prevention and early detection of kidney cancer.
Types of Kidney Cancer
There are many types of kidney cancer. The most common is renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which accounts for approximately 85% of all malignant kidney tumors. RCCs form in the parts of the kidney that produce urine. RCC can be broken down into more specific subtypes.
After identifying a patient’s RCC subtype, a doctor can determine whether the patient has an inherited form of the cancer, which can help shape the treatment plan.
Another, less-common type of kidney cancer is transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). Also known as urothelial carcinoma, it starts in the lining of the renal pelvis (where the ureters meet the kidneys). Kidney cancer in children is almost always a Wilms tumor (nephroblastoma). This type of cancer is extremely rare in adults.
Kidney Cancer Signs and Symptoms
Patients with kidney cancer may not have or feel symptoms until the tumor has grown larger, making screening of high-risk individuals imperative for early detection. Signs and symptoms of kidney cancer may include the following:
- Bloody urine
- Unexplained lower back pain on one side
- A lump on the side or lower back
- Unexplained fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Prolonged fever with no identifiable cause
- Anemia (low red blood cell count)
If the disease spreads to another part of the body (metastasizing), kidney cancer can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing up blood, and bone pain.
How Physicians Diagnose Kidney Cancer
Physicians take several steps in evaluating a patient for possible kidney cancer, generally beginning with a physical examination and personal and family history. From there, physicians may wish to order assessments such as:
- Computed tomography (CT)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Ultrasound
- X-rays
- Bone scans
- Positron emission tomography (PET)
- Intravenous (IV) pyelogram
- Angiography
- Biopsy
- Blood tests, urine analysis, and staging
People diagnosed with kidney cancer can receive a range of services for RCCA’s expert medical oncologists, from a second opinion on a diagnosis or treatment plan to development and implementation of a highly personalized treatment regimen employing the latest evidence-based therapies.
Stages and Grades of Kidney Cancer
Just like other forms of cancer, kidney cancer is categorized in stages based on its extent, tumor size, and spread. The stage of cancer is used to determine the preferred course of action for treatment and recovery.
Using the TNM system developed by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), kidney cancer is graded from stages I through IV. This system adds further insight to each stage, with numeric values for tumors, nodes, and spread (metastasis). The stages of kidney cancer are:
- Stage I: The kidney tumor has not spread and is less than 7 cm in size (one inch equals about 2.5 cm, so 7 cm is roughly 2.8 inches)
- Stage II: The kidney tumor has still not spread but has grown beyond 7 cm
- Stage III: The tumor (any size) is in the kidney and nearby lymph nodes or the blood vessels and surrounding kidney tissue
- Stage IV: The cancer has spread to lymph nodes, other organs, or the adrenal gland above the kidney
Treatment Options for Kidney Cancer
Because no two cancer diagnoses are alike, treatment depends on the specific patient. When selecting kidney cancer treatments, medical oncologists develop plans based on each patient’s needs.
Taking into account several factors, such as patients’ overall health and test results, care plans may include:
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Surgery
- Radical Nephrectomy (removal of the entire kidney)
- Partial Nephrectomy
- Laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgeries
- Radiation therapy
- Genetic testing
- Palliative care
- Integrative care (combining treatment multiple treatment options)
Treatment options may also include clinical trials and experimental procedures.
Find Compassionate Kidney Cancer Care at RCCA
Thanks to ongoing research and treatment advances, care for kidney cancer has never been more effective than it is today. People in New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, and the Washington, D.C., area, can receive comprehensive kidney cancer care at more than 20 Regional Cancer Care Associates locations. The team of experienced board-certified oncologists specializes in treating patients of all ages for cancer or blood disorders. For more information, contact Regional Cancer Care Associates.
Speak With Us Today
With 25 locations across Connecticut, Maryland, and New Jersey, RCCA is equipped to help people beat renal cancer and maintain their quality of life. If you or a loved one has or suspects kidney cancer, schedule an evaluation at a location near you.
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